Inclosure for chairs, beds, and the like for taking sun baths



Oct. 29, 1929. w. RITTENHOUSE ET AL INCLOSURE FOR CHAIRS, BEDS AND THE LIKE FOR TAKING SUN BA'I'HS Filed Aug. 31. 1926 FIG. 4-

INVENTOR. W723? Emma usz'r HSVM YZA/VD wwW ATTORNEY Patented oa. 29, 1929 ars WALTER RITTENHOUSE AND WILLIAlVL H. SXVEETLAND, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA INCLOSU'RE FOR CHAIRS, BEDS, AND THE LIKE FOR TAKING SUN BATES 7 Application filed August 31, 1928.

Our invention relates to inclosures for chairs, beds and the like, for the purpose of taking sun baths on the chairs, beds, or the like.

. The objects of our invention are; first, to

provide closure means of this class which may be easily and quickly mounted on chairs, beds, and the like for inclosing the occupant of the chair, bed, or the like from view on all sides 1 except at the top for the purpose of taking sun baths while nude; second, to provide closure means of this class which is particularly adapted to be used in connection with chairs adapted. to be reclined and also in connection with beds adapted tobe tilted so that the occupant of the chairs and beds may readily recline at the proper angle so as to receive the most beneficial effects from the suns rays; third,,to provide closure means of this class consisting of a plurality of pivotally connected rigid panels which may be variously shifted relative to each other, for inclosing the sides of any desired area of or around the chair, bed, or the like on which the closure means is mounted; fourth, to provide closure means of this class comprising sets of pivotally connected panels, one panel of each set being stationary but removably mounted on a stationary portion of the chair, bed, or the like, and the other panels pivotally mounted on the stationary panelrbeing adapted to, be variously shifted relative thereto for forming a complete inclosure for the chair, bed, or the like, with the shiftable panels of the other sets; fifth, to provide closure means of this class comprising a plurality of foldable rigid panels having flexible aprons at their lower ends for increasing the height of the closure means below the rigid panels; sixth, to pro- 4.0 vide closure means of this class which may be readily folded up, removed from the chair, bed, or the like, and stored away in compact form when not in use, so that the chair, bed, or the like, may be usedfor other purposes; seventh, to provide as a whole novelly constructed and arranged closure means for chairs, beds and the like, for the purpose mentioned, and, eighth, to provide closure means of this class which is particularly simple, and economical of construction, durable Serial No. 132,676.

and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in View as will appear hereinafter, our invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, which form apart of this application, in which; 1 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a reclining or beach chair with our closure means mount} ed on the arms thereof and extended to inclose the sides of the same, certain parts and portionsthereof being broken away to .facilitate the illustration; Fig. 2' is an enla rged; fragmentary sectional view thereof, taken through 22 of Fig. 1 showing the means of mounting the closure means on the arm of thechair;Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective View taken at 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the mounting of the rear panel on' the adjacent inner panel, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a tiltable bed showingour closure means mounted thereon, certain parts and portions of the closure means being broken away to facilitate the illustration. I Like characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughoutthe sev eralviews of the'drawings. v The essential part of our closure means as applied to beds and chairs, as illustrated in the drawings, consists of normally stationary a5 panels '1, forward panels 2 and 3, rear panels 4 and5, hinge members 6 and the aprons, or drapes, 7anc1 8. a All of'the panels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are preferably made ofrigid frames, shaped rectangularly as shownfor otherwise, if desired, and covered by opaque fabric, parchment, wood panels, or other light materials The panels areprcferably made in sets, one for eachside of the chair, bed, or'the like, so that they maybe readily handled, applied to the articleof furniture and more readily shifted to the desired position. Each set, or unit of panels is provided .with'a stationary panel 1 which is adapted to be mount- 100 ed directly on the article of furniture for supporting the same and the other panels connected thereto. In Fig. 1 of the draw-. ings the movable arms 9 of the reclining chair, indicated by 9, are provided with sleeves, or socket ,members 10, which are spaced from each other and open at their upper ends. At the lower edges of the panels 1 are mounted downwardly extending supporting members 11 which may be in the form of short rods or lugs which are adapted toextend into the sleeves or socket members 10 for removably supporting and positioning the panels 1 relative to the arms or other portions of the chair 9.;

The panels 2, of similar construction, are pivotally connected at their edges to the forward edges of the panels 1, preferably by double acting hinges 12. At the forward or free edges of the panels 2 are pivotally mounted the panels 3 by similar hinges 12. The free edges of the panels 3 are preferably detachably connected together by latches, or flexible straps 13, as shown in Fig. 1.

To the rear edges. of the panels 1 are pivotally connected other similar panels 4 by means of hinges 12. On the rear edges of the panels 4 are pivotally mounted hinge members or strips 6 by means of hinges 14:, the axes of said hinges extending vertically. To the upper ends of the hinge strips 6 are pivotally connected the upper rear corners of the rear panels 5 bymeans of hinges 15, the axes of which extend horizontally, as shown best in Fig. 3. These hinges 15-are friction hinges and are made sufficiently tight to hold the panels 5 in various positions as desired. Thus the connection of the panels 5 relative tolthe panels 4: permits the former to be shifted either horizontally or vertically so as to inclose the rear end of the closure means as well as to raise the rear end thereof,'as shown in Fig. 1. The rear edges of the panels 5 are also preferably connected together by means of flexible straps 13. 7

To the lower edges of the panels 1, 2 3 and 1 of each set, or unit, are secured flexible aprons, or curtains, 7 for lowering the protective screen of the closure means. The aprons, or curtains, 7 are preferably secured to the panels 1, 2, 3 and l by means ofsnaps so that the aprons, or curtains, may be removed when desired. The aprons, or screens,

' secured to the panels 1, 2, 3 and 1 are preferably in singlepieces' and the forward edges of saidaprons, or curtains, arei-preferably connected together by other snaps, as indicated by 16 in Fig. 1. To thelower edges of the panels 5 are similarly secured similar aprons, or curtains, 8, the rear edges of which are preferably connected together in a manner similar to the forward edges of the aprons, or curtains 7. The forward edges of the aprons 8 preferably overlap the rearedges ofthe aprons 7 as shown in Fig. 1.

The closure structure shown in Fig. 4 is ap plied to a bed 17 which may be of any conventional construction. The bed, shown in Fig. 1, however, is of special construction so that the bed may be inclined by means'of adjustable legs at the foot and head, so that the bodyof the occupant of the bed may be tilted as directly as possible toward the rays of the sun. 1 In the modified form of construction,

preferably eliminated. The aprons, or-curtains 8 may be used, however, so as to fully inclose the bed when the rear panels are raised, or when the head end of the bed is raised, as shown.

Though we have shown and described a particular construction, combination and ar rangement of parts and portions of our closure means, and a particular application thereof to a chair, and a slightly modified form of construction thereof, and a particular application of the modified construction to a bed, We do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, nor to'the modification, nor to the particular adaptations, but desire to include in the scope of our invention the construction, combinationand arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a closure meansof the class described, the combination with an article of furniture adapted for occupancy therein having supporting means at its sides, of vertically positioned stationary panels mounted on the supporting means at the sides of the article of furniture, andgother panels pivotally mounted at the edges of said, stationary panels.

2. In a closure means'of the class described, A

the combination with an article of furniture adapted for occupancy therein having supporting means at its sides, of stationary panels mounted on' the sup orting means at the sides of the article of urniture,-other panels pivotally mounted at the edges of.

said stationary panels, and. aprons carried by and extending-downwardly from the lower edges of said panels.

3. In a closure means of the class described, the combination with an article of furniture having supporting means at its sides, of readily removable stationary panels mounted on the supporting means at the sides of the article of furniture, other panels pivotally mounted on the forward edges of said stationary panels, vertical and horizontal hinge means supported at the rear of said stationary panels, and other panels mounted on said vertical and horizontal hinge means.

a. In a closure means of the class described, the combination with an article of furniture having supporting means at its sides, of readily removable stationary panels mounted on the supporting means at the sides of the article of furniture, other panels pivotally mounted on the forward edges of said stationary panels, vertical and horizontal hinge means supported at the rear of said stationary paneis, other panels mounted on said vertical and horizontal hinge means, and flexible aprons carried by all of said panels and extending downwardly from the lower edges thereof.

5. In a closure structure of the class described, the combination with an article of furniture having a supporting means at its sides, readily removable stationary panels provided at their lower portions with means adapted to engage and be supported by the supporting means of said article of furniture, shiftable panels pivotally connected with each other and pivotally mounted on the forward edges of said stationary panels, the forward panels being adapted to be shifted toward each other for forming an inclosure of said article of furniture at the front side thereof, other shiftable panels pivotally mounted at the rear edges of said stationary panels, vertical and horizontal hinge means mounted on the rear edges of said last mentioned shiftable panels, and other shiftable panels mounted near their forward upper portions on said vertical and horizontal hinge means, said latter panels being also adapted to be shifted toward each other for forming an inclosure at the rear of said article of furniture, and means for detachably connecting the forward and rear edges of the respective forward and rear panels together.

6. In a closure structure of the class described, the combination with an article of furniture having a supporting means at its sides, readily removable stationary panels provided at their lower portions with means adapted to engage and be supported by the supporting means of said article of furniture, shiftable panels pivotally connected with each other and pivotally mounted on the forward edges of said stationary panels,

the forward panels being adapted to be shifted toward each other for forming an inclosure of said article of furniture at the front side thereof, other shiftable panels pivotally mounted at the rear edges of said stationary panels, vertical and horizontal hinge means mounted on the rear edges of of said article vof furniture.

said last mentioned shiftable panels, and

other shiftable panels mounted near their forward upper portions on said vertical and horizontal hinge means, said latter panels being also adapted to be shifted toward each other for forming an inclosure at "the rear 7. In a closure structureiof the class descrlbed, the comblnatlon with an article of furniture having a supporting means at its sides, readily remoyable stationary panels provided attheir lower portions with means adapted to engage and be supported by the supporting means of said article of furniture, shiftable panels pivotally connected with each other and pivotally mounted on the forward edges of said stationary panels, the forward panels being adapted to be shifted toward each other forforming an inclosure of said article of furniture at the front side thereof, other shiftable panels mounted at the rear edges of said stationary panels, vertical and horizontal hinge means mounted on the rear edges of said last mentioned shiftable panels, other shiftable panels mounted near their forward upper portions on said vertical and horizontal hinge means, said latter panels being also adapted to be shifted toward each other for forming an inclosure at the rear of said article of furniture, aprons detachably connected to the lower edges on all of said panels, and means detachably connecting the forward edges of the forward panels and aprons and also for detachably connecting the rear edges of the rear panels and said aprons.

8. In a closure structure of the class described, the combination with an article of furniture adapted for occupancy of a pair of stationary, readily removable panels mounted one on each side portion of said article of furniture, movable panels pivotally secured to the forward sides of said stationary secured to the forward sides of said stationary panels and extendible across the front of said article of furniture, other movable panels pivtionary panels, and still other panels mounted at the extended sides of said second mentioned movable panels and vertically and 130 horizontally shiftable relative thereto, said 1125 otally secured to the rear sidesof said stalast mentioned panels extendible across the I rear side ofsaid article of furniture.

10. In a closure structure of the class described, the combination with an article of furniture adapted for occupancy of a pair of stationary, readily removable panels mounted one on each side portion'of said article of furniture, movable panels pivotally secured to the forward sides of said station ary panels and extendible across the front of said article of furniture, other movable panels connected with said stationary panels and vertically and horizontally shiftable relative thereto, said last mentioned panels extendible across the rear side of said article of furniture.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto set our hands at Fresno, California, this 20 day of August, 1926.

'- WVALTER RITTENHOUSE.

' WILLIAM H. SWEETLAND'. 

